Marking machine



21, 1943. M. D. KENNEDY EI'AL MARKING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1940 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 21, 1943.-

M. D. KENNEDY ETAL MARKING MACHINE Filed June 12. 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Mai Se t. 21, 1943. M. D. KENNEDY EIAL 2,329,342

' MARKING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 3/ V 4, m a

9 .am I m Lilli F a awe/1M MARKING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1940 6Sheets-Sheet 4 p 1943- v M. DQKENNEDY arm. 2,329,842

MARKING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 gYWsM M p 1943- M.D. KENNEDY EI'AL 2,329,842

MARKING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1940 e Sheets-Sheet e Patented Sept. 21,1943 Examiner MARKING MACHINE Mabry D. Kennedy and Richard Sias,Orlando, Fla., assignors to American Machinery Corporation, Orlando,Fla.,

a corporation of Florida Application June 12, 1940, Serial No. 340,111

13 Claims.

The present invention is a marking machine for markin trade names, grademarks or other indicia on the surface of spherical objects, such asoranges, grapefruit, tangerines, apples, lemons, limes, cantaloupes,etc., but it is to be understood that the use of the invention is not tobe restricted to these named articles as it is susceptible of use with awide range of objects.

The problem of marking individual fruit in the modern packing plant hasbecome increasingly difiicult within recent years due to materiallyincreased production of modern equipment, to the introduction of newprocesses, such as "coloradded, which latter process, by law, must beidentified upon the skin of each fruit so treated, and to the marking ofthe grade upon the surface of the individual fruit. Greater markingspeeds are required by this increased capacity. Definite limitations onthe percentage of fruit not properly marked imposes more extremeconditions by virtue of new processes. Adaptability of a marking machineto present equipment installation, at points where fruit may be markedafter it is graded, without reducing or impeding the speed ofproduction, is a requirement, together with means for quickl andinexpensively changing the die to permit markin of different grades.

Existing marking machines employ a timing mechanism for feeding to themarking mechanism the articles to be marked. The speed of such timedfeeding means is much slower than the movement of the articles or fruitthrough other preceding handling equipment of the packing house, thusslowing up the ultimate output of the equipment. Such timed feedin meansconsists of pockets or slots into which the fruit or other objects aredropped at random prior to marking and considerable time is required toallow the individual fruit or object to fit itself into the pocket whichmust be of adequite size to fit the largest fruit; and, consequently,abnormal or small size fruit is handled or marked with greatinefiiciency, if at all, resultin in the marking being on the stem orblossom ends of the fruit and necessitating, in many cases, separatemachines to be provided for large, small and intermediate sizes or elseelaborate adjustments made.

The general advantages of the machine of the present invention overexisting machines is its speed of operation, such speeding being a contnuous flow, at least at the same speed the fruit passes through previousequipment in the line of handling or packing, the elimination of thenecessity of timing the objects passing through the marking machine, itssimplicity of construction resultin in a much less expensive machine,its adaptation for use without change to existing packing houseequipment, and its ability to con-- (:01 the position of the articlespassing through it to insure a marking on the smooth side of the fruit,while the fruit passes therethrough at least at the same speed that itis handled by other conveyor equipment in the plant without thenecessity of special feeding mechanism or other means to rearrange thefruit to proper marking position and irrespective of grade or size.

In order to accomplish the above and other advantages the inventionpossesses many features of novel construction and of arrangement andcombination of parts, all of which will be specifically described andultimately pointed out in the appended claims. Among these features are:

(1) A trough means receiving the fruit and allowing it to passtherethrough as quickly as the fruit is capable of being moved and astamping means arranged in the path of movement of the fruit and meanfor pressing the fruit in succession and irrespective of its sizeagainst the stamping means whereby an impression is made on the fruit;

(2) The feed trough having diverging sides over which the fruit rollsand means for imparting a spinning action to the fruit as it passesthrough the trough so that it will revolve about its stem and blossomends as an axis and thereby present a wide surface of the fruit to themarking device:

(3) In arranging a trip device to be actuated by the weight of eachpiece of fruit, which trip device causes a freshly inked stamping die topresent itself to each piece of fruit;

(4) Arrangement of the dies so that they may be brought from inking tomarking position with a minimum of movement;

(5) Mounting of several sets of dies around a die block where at leasttwo die surfaces are alternately brought into marking position frominking position;

(6) Mounting of several sets of dies about a die block which isadjustable so as to change the legend to be marked upon the fruit;

('7) Means to normally maintain the dies, which are heated, out ofcontact with the inking means whereby the inking means will not becomedestroyed or injured;

(8) Means actuated by each fruit passing over the marking device foractuating die inking ribbon, step by step;

(9) Means for automatically reversing the movement of the inking ribbonat a predetermined point in its length;

(10) A novel means for actuating the dies from inking to markingposition which includes an electric switch actuated by each movement ofthe die for closing a circuit which will control its next movement.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists inwhatever is shown and described therein.

In the drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the presentcommercial embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic or diagrammatic view of electric wiring for thedevice;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention takensubstantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the machine;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure1;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the stamp actuatingmechanism and a side elevation of the ribbon advancing and reversingmechanism, said view being taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a front end view taken substantially on line 11 of Figure 3to show the mechanism for actuating and controlling the movement of thestamps from inking to marking position with portions of the cover brokenaway, and illustrating its relation to the trough and the triggerdevice;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 7 but withthe housing removed;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 ofFigure 8 to illustrate the mechanism for moving the inking means to andfrom the stampers and the advancing and reversing mechanism for theinking ribbon; and

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on line Ill-40 ofFigure 9.

Throughout the several views like characters will denote similar andlike parts.

All the mechanism of the machine of the present invention is mountedupon a frame F consisting of appropriate structural members supporting aV-shaped trough T, and the actuating mechanism of the machine. It ispreferred to enclose by a sheet metal housing H as much of the actuatingmechanism as is conveniently possible for the obvious reasons of keepingthe same clean, prevention of accidental injury thereto and providesafety for the attendant. The housing H is mounted upon the frame F andprovides the top, side and end covering walls of the machine; and itstop wall is formed to also provide the V-shaped trough T extendinglongitudinally of the machine. The trough is of a length sulncient togather and arrange the fruit in single file as it passes from one end ofthe trough to the other, in commercial practice the length of the troughbeing about four or five feet.

The trough T at one end of the machine (which may be termed the rearend") is shaped to provide an upwardly inclined transversely extendingchute I0 which is to be placed against the discharge end of a conveyingmeans, which is part of the usual processing or handling mechanism, sothat the fruit or other objects may be delivcred onto the chute l0 andinto the trough T.

To insure that the fruit will be arranged in single file in the troughbefore it reaches the marking mechanism S and to position the fruit inthe trough so that the side thereof will be presented to the markingmechanism, as well as to insure its rapid movement through the trough, aconveyor II is provided which in effect forms a moving wall on one sideof the V-shaped trough T. This conveyor H at present consists of anendless belt having one reach thereof within the trough and extendinglongitudinally thereof and resting upon the inner face of one of theside walls of the trough, the other reach of the belt extending on theother side of said wall, The

mounting of said belt may be accomplished by providing suitable slots [2and I3 in a side wall of the trough and adjacent its ends, respectively,and journalling rollers l4 and IS in said slots. respectively, andtraining the belt ll thereover. The bearings at each end of the roller Mat the rear end of the trough are slidable in guides l6 and areadjustable for tightening or loosening the belt by means of handoperated screw rods Of course, other suitable means of adjustment may beemployed. The belt II is driven from the drive shaft l B, suitablymounted on the frame E and preferably disposed under the trough T, thedrive shaft having an operative connection by means of a driving belt I9passing over a pulley 20 thereon and a pulley 2| mounted on an axialextension of the roller I6. The drive shaft i8 is driven from anelectric motor 22 mounted on the frame F and having a belt drivingconnection 23 therewith.

At the forward or discharge end of the machine and immediately beyondthe belt II, a stamp S is provided over which the fruit passes toreceive a suitable impression of indicia or other design desired. Inorder to insure the proper marking of the fruit, a pressure wheel 25 ismounted to overlie the marker S and to engage the top of the fruit as itpasses thereover to press the same against the marker,

As at present devised, the pressure wheel 25 comprises two concentricand spaced wheels having a pulley 26 disposed between them, the wheelsand the pulley being in close juxta-position so as, in effect, toprovide a pressure wheel with a broad peripheral surface. This wheelassembly is disposed between the arms of a U-shaped yoke 28 andjournalled on a spindle 21 carried by the free ends of the yoke. Theother or closed end of the yoke has rigidly connected therewith alaterally extending sleeve 29 through which extends a shaft 30journalled at its end portions in upstanding brackets 3| extendingupwardly from opposite sides of the top of the housing H.

A pulley 32 is keyed on one end portion of the shaft 30 (see Figure 4)and is driven by a belt 33 trained over a pulley 34 on the shaft [8(Figures 1 and 3), the belt extending through a slot 36 in the top wallof the housing H. The wheel 25 is likewise driven by a belt 31 trainedover the pulleys 36 and a pulley 38 fast on the shaft 30 and disposedbetween the arms of the yoke 38. The direction and speed of rotation ofthe wheel 25 is sufficient to quickly draw each piece of fruit incontact with its undersurface away from the remaining fruit in thetrough T and discharge it from the machine; and, since the yoke arm 28horizontally offsets the wheel from the shaft 30, the pressure of thewheel against the fruit moving thereunder is suiiicient to bring it intocontact with the marker S so as to receive an impression therefrom. Theperiphery of the wheel 25 may be covered with a soft yieldable material25a, such as rubber, felt and the like, to avoid hard surfaces andcutting edges from injuring the fruit.

The wheel 25 may be swung about the shaft 30 to raise and lower it togenerally adjust its height sufiiciently to enable it to contact withthe fruit passing thereunder; and this may be accomplished by theprovision of a cam 39 keyed on a shaft 40 journalled at its ends in thebrackets 3| and being provided at one end with a hand wheel 4|. This camor eccentric 39 contacts with a shoe 42 rigid with the sleeve 29 andextending in a direction opposite to the arm 28. Thus, by

turning the hand wheel 4|, the cam 39 will depress the shoe 42 or allowit to rise, under the weight of the wheel and the arm, so as to raiseand lower the wheel 25. It has been found that the cam 39 may be held inmanually adjusted positions by a simple frictional device comprising acompression spring 43 (Figures 1 and 4) interposed between the cam 39and the adjacent stationary bracket 3| and bearing against the same,respectively.

It will thus be seen that as fruit is delivered in rather scatteredfashion onto the chute l0, it moves downwardly to the trough T where itbegins to assume a single file arrangement. This single filing isaccelerated by the moving belt H which draws or spaces out the fruitalready settled in single file position in the trough, allowing otherfruit crowding on the side to drop in these spaces, thus preventingcrowding of the fruit to the sides of the trough. file position thefruit rests at one side upon the moving belt II and on its other sideagainst the stationary side of the trough, which causes a spinning ofthe fruit on these two points of contact during the remainder of itspassage through the trough. Such spinning of the fruit, in almost everycase, causeslthe fruit to finally assume a spinning action on its stemand blossom ends as an axis, with said axis extending substantiallyhorizontally and, since the marker S is positioned at the bottom or apexof the trough T, presents the most desirable side surface of the fruitto the marker so as to receive the impression therefrom. Consequently,as can be seen the fruit disposes itself in a single file before itreaches the marker and will move rapidly along the length of themachine, at least at the same speed of additional fruit being fed intothe machine at H), which additional fruit also has a tendency to crowdagainst the preceding fruit and avoid any lagging thereof whichoccasionally may occur.

By virture of the fact that it is desirable to mark the fruit with inkit is necessary that the marker S be inked; but as the fruit has a moreor less rolling action over the marker, it is impractical in somesituations to employ a ribbon moving over a stationary marker or inother conditions to employ moving inking devices, which willperiodically ink a stationary marker because of the steady unbroken flowof fruit over the marker. Consequently, to meet all conditions of use.the specific marking mechanism here illustrated is actuated fromstamping position to a point Where it is inked and then returned tostamping position, this being accomplished by the following mechanism:

The marker S comprises a sleeve 24 having a cylindrical inner surfaceand a polygonal outer surface (preferably octagonal) and upon the facesof which are removably secured. such as by screws or the like, stampsbearing suitable legends or indicia. The sleeve 24 surrounds anoscillatory shaft 44 extending longitudinally of and positionedimmediately below the bottom of the trough T. This shaft is journalledat its end portions in bearings carried by the casting 45 mounted on theforward end of the frame F and immediately beyond the forward end of theconveyor belt ll (see Figure 6 in particular). The sleeve 24 is slidableon the shaft 44 but is held in normal stationary position thereon by ahelical spring 46 surrounding the shaft and bearing against the casting45 and one end of the sleeve 24 to move the other end of said sleeveExaminer into abutting engagement with a laterally pro- It has beenfound that a movement of of the shaft in opposite directions issuflicient and, consewithin its coil and, due to the connection of thearmatures with the shaft 44, the armature of the other non-energizedsolenoid is withdrawn outwardly therefrom. This movement is utilized tobring the pad b or b into contact with the stamp wh ch has been movedfrom marking position to inking position. With particular reference toFigures 7, 8 and 9, the parts are shown in a position wherein thesolenoid 50 is energized and an abutment 490 on the armature 49a,arranged in alignment with an extended portion of the bar a, is broughtinto contact with the latter and moves member, the trigger arm the pad bcarried thereby against the tension of the spring e into compressingcontact with the stamp 24b of the selected operating pair or set whichhas been moved into inking position. When the solenoid 49 has beenenergized the reverse operation takes place, wherein the abutment 50cengages an extension of the bar a.

Of course, it will be understood that any suitable means may be employedfor oscillating the shaft 44 and alternately bringing the pads b and bin contact with the stamps of the operating set; for instance, onedouble acting solenoid may be employed or the solenoids 49 and 50 may besingle acting of the armature ejecting type, rather than the armatureattracting type as at present used.

The operation of the solenoids 49 and 50 is caused by means of a teetermember in the form of a plate 53 providing the bottom of the forward endof the trough T and over which the fruit marked. The forward end of thetrough T, which includes the teeter member 53, is somewhat wider thanits other portion as can be readily seen, particularly from Figure 7.The teeter member 53 is mounted for movement by means of a horizontalspindle 53a disposed transversely on its underside intermediate its endand rotatably journalled in bearings 53b on the forward portion of thecasting 45, see Figures stamp opening 56 just large enough to allow thestamp on the sleeve 24, which is in stamping position, to projecttherethrough for a slight distance while the rear end of the teetermember Immediately in front of the stamp, or following the stamp in thedirection of travel of the fruit, the teeter member is provided with anopening 56a of much greater area than the stamp opening 56. Secured tothe casting 45 is a horizontal plate 54 which is aligned with theopening 56a and dimensioned to fill the area thereof. This plate 54forms a stationary platform for the fruit passing from the stamp so thatsaid fruit will not further influence the teetering movement of themember 53 as will be later explained.

Consequently, as each piece of fruit is dis charged from the trough Tonto the teeter member 53 and initially passes under the wheel 25, thepressure on the fruit will depress the rear end of the teeter member tothe position shown in full lines of Figure 6, instantly causing theoperation of one of the solenoids to move the stamp of the operating setto marking position, where it is exposed; and, as the fruit rollsrapidly directly under the wheel, it will be pressed against the stamp,receiving a marking therefrom; and as the fruit passes from the stamponto the platform 54, the springs will return the teeter member to itsdotted line position until the next piece of fruit, immediately andclosely following, repeats the operation described. This teeteringmovement of the member 53 is utilized to alternately energize thesolenoids 49 and 59 by means of a trigger arm 59 projecting downwardlyfrom one side edge of the teeter actuating a normally opened switch 60positioned and arranged to close an electric circuit to either of thesolenoids, when the rear end of the teeter member is depressed, and foropening the circuit when its rear end is held open by the trigger arm 59fluence of the springs 57.

To effect the alternate operation of the solenoids 49 and 50 and,consequently, the operation of the two stamps 24a and 24b (of the setwhich have been adJusted for that purpose) may oscillate beyond thearrested movement of the arm 6|.

which,

txaminer trigger switch 60 to close, under the bias of its spring 60a,and current to flow through the switch to the commutator plate 61,through the brush arm 61 while in its full line position (Figures 2 and7), to plate 68, thus energizing solenoid 50 which has attracted itsarmature 50a and by pitman 50b has rotated shaft 44 anti-clockwise tobring the previously inked stamp 24a into stamping position, to bring thstamp 24b and the inking pad b to inking position (see Figure 9).

As the fruit immediately passes directly under the wheel 25 and ispressed in contact with the stamp 24a to receive the marking therefrom,the pressure of the wheel upon the fruit keeps the rear end of theteeter member depressed as aforestated, with current still passing tothe solenoid 50; but, when the fruit has passed over the stamp and offthe teeter member onto the stationary platform 54, the tension of thesprings 51 immediately raises the rear end of the teeter member to itsdotted line position (Figures 3 and 6) before the next piece of fruit,immediately following, comes initially under the wheel 25.

In this interval, when the rear end of the teeter member has been thusraised by the springs 57, as just mentioned, the trigger 58 moves intoengagement with the switch 60 to open it against its spring 60a, cuttingoff current to the solenoid 50; and, when this has been accomplished,the tension spring e connecting the arms 0 and 0' moves the arm 0carrying the pad b (which had been in inking engagement with th stamp24b) away from the stamp 24b to its dotted line position (Figure 9) and,since the bar a is in contact with the abutment 49c carried by thepitman rod 49a, the stamp carrying shaft 44 is rotated (clockwise inFigure 9 about 45. This movement of the shaft by the tension spring eaccomplishes two purposes: (1) it moves the brush arm 6| from its fullline position against the stops (9 to its dotted line position wherebythe brush 66 thereof contacts with the commutator plate (59 to energizea solenoid 49 when the trigger switch 60 is next closed; and (2) itmoves the stamp, which has been in inking position, out of contact withthe inking member to avoid burning or injury to the latter from allowingcontact thereof with the stamp for too long a period, when it isdesirable in some instances to heat the stamps by means later to bedescribed.

Now, as the next succeeding fruit immediately following comes upon therear end of the teeter member 53 and depresses it, the switch 80 isagain closed, allowing current to flow therethrough to the commutatorplate 61, to switch arm Bl, to plate 69 energizing solenoid 49. When thesolenoid 49 is energized, it attracts its armature 49a and throughpitman 49b rotates the stamp carrying shaft 44 clockwise for about 45,thereby moving the stamp 24b from its dotted line position (Figure 9) toassume the stamping position and moving the stamp 24a from dotted lineposition (Figure 9) to a position opposite the pad b (Figure 9). Thismovement of the shaft 44 likewise withdraws the armature a from itssolenoid coil 50 and causes the abutment 500 on the pitman 50b tocontact an end of the bar a on the inking arm 0' moving it against thetension of the spring e to press the pad b against the stamp 24a. As thepiece of fruit passes from onto plat form 54 from the stamp 24b, thespring 51 causes the trigger 59 to open the switch 60 de-energizing thesolenoid 49 and allowing a tension spring 2 (Figure 9) to swing the arm0 against the abutment 50c, whereby the pad b is moved out of inkingposition with the stamp 24a and, simultaneously, the shaft 44 is rotatedanti-clockwise for about 45 moving the stamp 24a to dotted line positionshown in Figure 9 and moving the brush arm 6| from its dotted lineposition against stop to its full line position against stop 19 with thebrush B6 in contact with commutator plate 68 to solenoid 58. From thisposition of the brush arm 8|, the next cycle of the machine continues asabove described.

The linkage from the solenoids 49 and 50 to the shaft 44, the setting ofthe solenoids and the movement cf he arms 0 and c of the inking device Iunder the influence of sprin e is such that the stamp carrying sleeve24a is rotated in either direction of its movement by the spring ethrough an arc of about 45, from inking position of the stamp to theneutral position thereof shown in dotted lines of Figure 9, and throughan arc of about 45 from neutral position by the operation of eithersolenoid, thu the shaft is rotated through an arc of 90 in bothdirections, which corresponds to the position of any pair or set ofstamps on the sleeve 24a which have been ad justed for the stampingoperation. Of course, the various parts just mentioned may each beadjusted to produce more or less than a 45 movement of the shaft 44 solong as the sum of their total movement is about 90. While it has beenrotate the stamp carrying sleeve 24a.

As above suggested, it is desirable in some instances to heat themarking device 5 and this may be accomplished, as shown, by providingone end portion of the shaft 44 with a longitudinal bore in which isdisposed a heating coil generally indicated 8!, the conductors 82leading from the coil are connected to insulated rings 83 on one ductorsl6 and 13' (see Figure 2). Also, for lubricating purposes, the other endportion of the shaft 44 may be provided with a bore in which is threadeda lubricating nipple 85 and from which bore are openings 86 and 81, oneto lubricate the forward end bearing of the shaft 44 and the otherallowing passage of a lubricant to the pivot connections between thepitmans 49b and 50b and crank pin 5!. A suitable lubricating cup 88 maybe provided for lubricating the bearing at the other end of the shaft.The other parts may be readily lubricated in any convenient way.

The pads b and b of the inking mechanism I may be inked in any suitableway; however, it is preferred in the present machine to employ anink-ribbon R. This, therefore, necessitates in practical operation aribbon advancing and reversing mechanism, particularly adapted to thepresent machine. As has been explained above, each successive piece offruit passing under the pressure wheel 25 raises and lowers this wheeland this movement is availed of to advance the ribbon over the pads band b.

Suitably supported, from the frame F and under the inking mechanism Iand the marking mechanism S at the forward end of the machine, are tworibbon spools 89 and 9D removably keyed on spindles 89a and 90a,respectively, journalled at one of their ends in a downwardly extendingplate-like casting 45a. The ribbon R is reeled on one spool and woundupon the other, and

conversely, while being passed over the inking pads b and b; and, tothis end, the ribbon is trained under an idler wheel 55 underlying thestamp-carrying sleeve 24, then upwardly over outer faces of the inkingpads b and b, then over and around the arms a and a and downwardly overthe pivot rod d and d, which also serves as guide for the ribbon to andfrom the spools 89 and 98.

In order to rotate the spindles 89a and 98a to feed the ribbon throughthe inking mechanism I, the spindle 89a has fast thereon a toothed wheel89b and a similar toothed wheel 98b is fast on the spindle 98a. Ashiftable arm 9| carries a dog 92 designed to engage with either one ofthe toothed wheels 8% or 98b according to the position of the arm 9| torotate spool 89 in an anticlockwise direction (Figure 9) to wind theribbon thereon and to rotate the spool 98 in a clockwise direction towind the ribbon thereon. In the drawings (as seen particularly in Figure9), the ribbon is being drawn from the spool 98 and being wound on spool89; the dog 92 being in cooperative engagement with the wheel 89b. Thearm 9| is pivotally mounted, preferably at its lower end as at 93, to anintermediate portion of an actuating lever 94 arranged in a generalhorizontal position and pivoted at one end, as at 95, to the casting 45aand is connected to a lever 96 by a vertical connecting rod 91. (SeeFigures 1, 3, and 4.) The lever 96 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 48and is engaged by a pin 98 carried by a collar 99 fast on the end of thesleeve 29 surrounding the shaft 38, which sleeve is connected to andmovable with the arm 28 supporting the pressure wheel 25. The pin 98 is,of course, off center on the collar 99 and is positioned to engage underthe lever arm 96 and move through an arc, thereby lifting and loweringthe lever arm 96 as the wheel 25 is raised and lowered by the fruit orother spherical objects moving thereunder. This movement of the leverarm 96 is transmitted through the rod 9! to the lever 94 which causesthe dog 92 to raise and lower, while in contact with the teeth of thewheel 89b, thus rotating the spool 89 to wind the ribbon thereupon.

The dog arm 9| is shifted from its position shown in Figure 9 to thedotted line position where the dog 92 will engage the wheel 98b, bymeans of a floating dog shifting cam member I88 having one end pivotallyconnected to an intermediate portion of the dog arm 9| above its pivot93 and its other end held by a tension spring |88a against a camfollower or pin I8I carried on reversing member I82 where operation iscontrolled by ribbon feeler 890 for the spool 89 and feeler 980 for thespool 90. The reversing member I82 may be in the form of anintermediately pivoted lever pivoted at |82a and oscillatable betweenstops I83 and I83a, one arm carrying the cam follower |8I and its otherend portion being pivotally connected to the feelers 89d and 98d. Thefeelers are yieldably held against the wound ribbon on their spools byany suitable means, such as by a tension spring I84 connecting thefeelers. Two reversing pawls in the form of elongated push-bars 89d and98d are employed for engaging the spool driving toothed wheels 89b and98b, respectively. The

1 reversing pawl 89d is pivotally mounted on an arm of the reversinglever I82, preferably at the same point or on the same axis with thefeeler 98c, and is rendered operative or inoperative by the movement ofthe latter while the reversing pawl 980 is preferably similarly mounted,on the same axis as the feeler 89c, and controlled by the latter.

The pawl ends of reversing pawl members 89d and 98d are arrangedrelative to their respective toothed wheels to engage the same inopposition to its winding rotation caused by the dog 92 so that eachpawl member may be pushed longitudinally by the winding rotation whenits feeler by which it is controlled, has moved to a predeterminedposition of its associated spool. For instance, as shown, when theribbon spool 90 has been nearly unwound therefrom, the feeler98c-following the diminishing diameter of the ribbon of the spool-willhave raised or moved the pawl 89d into engagement with the toothed wheel8% of spool 89, this being accomplished by a link 98e rigidly andadjustably projecting from the feeler 980 to provide a stirrup withwhich the pawl 89d freely engages. Similarly, a link 98a is carried bythe feeler 890 to engage the toothed wheel 98b of spool 98.Consequently, with the pawl 98d in engagement with the wheel 89b, thenext upward movement of the actuating lever 94, will bring the dog 92into engagement with the teeth of the wheel 89b to rotate the samecounter-clockwise, which movement of the wheel pushes the pawl 8901 tomove the reversing lever I82 about its pivot I82a (counter-clockwise inFigure 9), thereby causing the follower |8| to ride up one side of theinverted V-shaped cam I880 on dog shifting member I88 and at the sametime depressing the member I88 against the tension of its spring |88a.After the follower passes the apex of the cam I880, the spring |88acauses the other side of the cam to move against the follower, whosemovement about pivot I82a has been arrested by stop I83, thus resultingin the member I88 being shifted to the right (Figure 9) and swinging dogarm 9| to the right about its pivot 93 to bring the dog 92 incooperative relation with the toothed wheel 98b of spool 98. Now, theribbon advancing means is in position to rotate the toothed wheel 98bclockwise for winding the ribbon R upon spool 98 from spool 89, pawl 98dhaving been permitted to move (by gravity) out of contact with the wheel981) by movement of the feeler 890 on increasing diameter of the ribbonon spool 89, which movement of the feeler has moved the link 892 out ofcontact with the pawl 98d, Of course, any suitable means may be employedfor biasing the pawl 89d and 98d out of contact with their respectivewheels 8% and 98b.

The cam I880 on the dog shifting member I88 which yieldably contacts thefollower |8| by virtue of the spring I08a provides for a shifting of thedog arm 9| without having a dead center during the shifting movementand, since the follower |8|a always engages one side or the other of thecam I880, the dog arm 9| is maintained yieldably by the spring |88a inits cooperative position with either toothed wheel 89b or 98b accordingto the position of the shifting member I88.

When the ribbon on the spool 89 has almost been depleted the feeler 890will have moved the link We which in turn brings the pawl 98d intocontact with the toothed wheel 9811 so that upon the next movement ofthe actuating lever 94 the dog 92, through the wheel 98b, will push thepawl 98d to move the reversing member I82 clockwise on its pivot I 82a,resulting in the reverse of the operation above described and the shift-:ulr.

ing of the dog arm 9| to its full line position shown in Figure 9 sothat the ribbon will be wound onto the spool 89 from the spool 90.

In order to lock the toothed wheels 8% and 90b against'reverse movementto that imparted by the dog 92, when the dog 92 is operating upon eitherof said wheels, a shiftable latch member I is provided, carrying a dog92a similar to the dog 92. This latch member is pivoted at one end andis yieldably connected by a spring I06 to the distal end of the dog arm9|. Thus it will be seen that as the dog arm 9| shifts from toothedwheel 89b to toothed wheel 90b, and conversely, the latch member I05will be correspondingly shifted and be yieldably held in contact withsuch wheel as is being operated by the dog 92.

From the foregoing it will thus be obvious that great speed is possibleas a result of the design and combination of parts of the presentmachine and that single fruit passing over the machine causes every partto function so that the speed of operation is directly proportional tothe speed at which the fruit is fed to the machine. It will also beobvious that the machine offers many advantages over others now inexistence, principally due to its speed of operation and the positioningof the fruit so that the marking will occur on the side of the samerather than at its stem or blossom ends. By actual tests it has beenfound possible to handle an excess of 300 units of fruit a minute over asingle line and to produce a perfect mark on 98% of this fruit. Thesimplicity of the mechanism will result in a much less expensive machinethan is now available to the trade and its mechanical arrangement willpermit installation without change in existing equipment as is nownecessary with existing machines.

While the above describes the machine as at present devised, it is to beunderstood that certain changes in construction, combination, andarrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, particularly as pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for marking rollable articles and which includes afeeding trough along which the articles roll successively, a markingdevice disposed under the bottom of the trough and including a pluralityof stamps at least two of which are movable successively from stampingposition through an opening in the bottom of said trough to an inkingposition and from an inking position to stamping position, means foractuating said stamps, means for controlling said stamp actuating meansand operated by each succeeding article moving down the trough to saidmarking device and next to be marked, a yieldably mounted pressuredevice overlying the stamp in stamping position and between which passthe article to be stamped thus raising the pressure device and causingthe latter to press the article against the stamp, inking meansincluding an inked ribbon for inking the stamps when in inking position,and means actuated by the movement of the pressure device, caused by thearticles passing thereunder, for feeding the ribbon inking means whensaid stamps are out of contact therewith.

2. In a machine for marking rollable articles fed thereto, a markingdevice comprising a stamping station and an inking station, a to and fromovable member, a pair of spaced stamps carried by said member andmovable therewith and each arranged to be brought alternately to thestamping station from the inking station and to the inking station fromthe stamping station by said member in one direction of its movement,electric actuator means for moving said member alternately in oppositedirections to effect said positioning of said stamps and includingelectrical circuits, and an automatic selector switch in circuit withsaid actuator means and operated by the movement of said member foreffecting said alternate to and fro movements, and control meansoperated by the article moving to said stamping position to be markedfor closing said selected circuits when contacted by said article andopening said circuit when out of contact with said article.

3. In a machine for marking rollable articles fed thereto, a markingdevice comprising a stamping station and an inking station, a to and fromovable member, a pair of spaced stamps carried by said member andmovable therewith and each arranged to be brought alternately to thestamping station from the inking station and to the inking station fromthe stamping station by movement of said member in one direction,electric actuator means for moving said member alternately in oppositedirections to effect said positioning of said stamps and includingelectrical circuits, an automatic selector switch in circuit with saidactuator means and operated by the movement of said member for effectingsaid alternate to and fro movements, 2. depressible platform at thestamping station normally biased to raised position and adapted to bedepressed by the articles passing thereover, said platform having anopening therein through which the stamp in stamping position may projectand extending for a distance in advance of said stamping station withrespect to the travel of the article through the machine so as to bedepressed by the article before reaching the stamping station and duringthe stamping operation, a normally opened current control switch in saidcircuits and closed by said depressible platform when the latter isdepressed, and a stationary platform upon which the articles moveimmediately after being stamped, whereby the depressible platform ispermitted to raise to open said control switch,

4. In a machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein there are means formoving said to and fro member to positions intermediate said stampingand inking stations when the articles move from said depressibleplatform and which movement of the to and fro member causes the selectorswitch to move to sition.

5. In a machine for marking rollable articles comprising an oscillatableshaft, a pair of stamps carried by said member and arranged each to bealternately brought from stamping position to inking position and frominking position to stamping position by movement of said shaft in eachdirection of its movement; electrical means for intermittently movingsaid shaft in opposite directions of its movement including electricalcircuits controlling each direction of movement of the shaft, a selectorswitch for selecting one of said circuits comprising a switch armfrictionally mounted on said shaft to permit limited movement thereofwith the shaft to circuit selecting positions, a control switch foropening and closing said circuits, means for moving said shaft and thestamps thereon to intermediate positions when the control switch is openand another selecting powhich movement of said shaft moves the selectorswitch to another circuit selecting position.

6. In a machine for marking rollable articles fed thereto, a markingdevice comprising an oscillatable shaft, a pair of spaced stamps thereonarranged that one stamp will be in stamping position and the other ininking position when the shaft has completed each of its movements inone direction, electric solenoid means for moving the shaft in eachdirection of its movement and including an operative connection betweensaid solenoid means and said shaft, inking means for each stamp andactuated by said solenoid means for contacting the stamp moved to inkingposition, electrical circuits to said solenoid means and including anautomatic selector switch for alternately selecting one of said solenoidcircuits, means actuated by the article fed to the marking device to bestamped and including a current control switch in said circuits, andmeans for moving said shaft and the stamps thereon to an intermediateposition when said solenoid means is de-energized, said selector switchincluding a switch arm frictionally mounted on said shaft to permitlimited movement thereof with the shaft to said intermediate positionsfor selecting another solenoid circuit.

7. In a machine for marking rollable articles, a marking device, meansfor feeding said articles to said device, said marking device comprisinga stamping station and inking station, an oscillatable shaft, a sleeverotatably mounted about said shaft and adapted to carry on the outersurface thereof a plurality of pairs of stamps, the stamps of each pairbeing spaced about said sleeve and arranged to have one stamp of eachpair at the stamping station while the other is in the inking stationwhen the shaft has completed a movement in one direction, means foradjusting said sleeve about said shaft to select any pair of stamps foreffective operation, and means for oscillating said shaft.

8. In a machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said adjusting meansconsists of a pin projection on the shaft to engage a notched edge ofsaid sleeve, and yieldable means moving said sleeve in contact with saidpin.

9. In a machine for marking rollable articles fed thereto, a markingdevice comprising an oscillatable member, a pair of spaced stampsthereon arranged so that one stamp will be in stamping position and theother in inking position when the member has completed each of itsmovements in one direction, electric actuating means for moving themember in each direction of its movement, inking means actuated by saidelectric actuating means for contacting the stamp moved to inkingposition, electrical circuits to said actuating means and including anautomatic selector switch for alternately selecting one of saidcircuits, means actuated by the article fed to the marking device to bestamped and including a current control switch in said circuits.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 9 further characterized by means formoving said stamps to an intermediate position when said actuating meansis de-energized for moving said selector switch to another circuitselecting position.

11. In a machine for marking rollable articles and having a guidingtrough for causing said article to roll successively and unhindered to astamping station in rolling contact with a stamp;

a marking device disposed under said trough at the said stamping stationand including a to and fro movable member having a pair of stampsmovable alternately into stamping position through an opening in saidtrough, power means for actuating said stamps in unison to and fro toshift one stamp from stamping position to an inking position and theother from an inking position to stamping position, a yieldably mountedmember arranged to be engaged and operated by each succeeding articleapproaching and before the next article to be stamped reaches saidstamping station, and means controlled by said operation of saidyieldable member for operating said actuating means to cause the latter,when said member is engaged by each article, to move one of said stampsto stamping position to be contacted by said approaching article and tomove the other stamp to the inking position.

12. In a machine for marking rollable articles and having a guidingtrough for causing said articles to roll successively and unhindered toa stamping station in rolling contact with a stamp; a marking devicedisposed under said trough at said stamping station and including a toand fro movable member having a pair of stamps thereon and movabletherewith to be brought alternately into stamping position through anopening in said trough, means for actuating said to and fro movablemember to shift one stamp from stamping position to an inking positionand the other from an inking position to stamping position, a yieldablymounted member arranged to be engaged and operated by each succeedingarticle moving toward said stamping station, means controlled by saidoperation of the yieldable member for operating said actuating means'tocause the latter to move one of said stamps to stamping position, andmeans acting upon said to and fro movable member to move said stamps toan intermediate position between their stamping and inking positionsimmediately after the stamping operation of each article and before saidcontrolled means is next operated by said yieldable member.

13. In a machine for marking rollable articles and having a guidingtrough for causing said articles to roll successively and unhindered toa stamping station in rolling contact with a stamp; a marking devicedisposed under said trough at said stamping station and including a toand fro movable member having a pair of stamps thereon and movabletherewith to be brought alternately into stamping position through anopening in said trough, means for actuating said to and fro movablemember to shift one stamp from stamping position to an inking positionand the other from an inking position to stamping position, a yieldablymounted platform in the bottom of said trough and having one portionarranged rearwardly of said stamp opening in the direction of movementof the articles to said stamping station and normally biased to raisedposition and adapted to be depressed by articles passing thereover, anelectrical switch operable, when said platform is depressed, to actuatesaid actuating means to move a stamp to stamping position prior to thecontact of said article with the stamp, said platform being helddepressed by the article while engaged with the stamp.

MABRY D. KEm Y. RICHARD SIAS.

